Building executive level reports in Domo using Beast Mode calculations

If you’ve ever been asked to build an executive dashboard in Domo, you know the drill: leadership wants answers, not raw data. The problem? Most data dumps just lead to more questions. That’s where Beast Mode calculations come in—they let you wrangle your data into something that actually tells a story. This guide is for anyone who needs to build reports that busy execs will actually use (and not just screenshot for slides).

Let’s get straight to it.

What Is Beast Mode in Domo (and Why Should You Care)?

First off, if you’re new to Domo, it’s a cloud-based BI tool. There’s a lot you can do with it, but the thing that sets it apart is how quickly you can create custom calculations—“Beast Modes”—right inside your dashboards. No waiting for IT, no endless data model meetings. Just write a formula, hit save, and it’s live.

Here’s the real talk: Beast Mode calculations are powerful, but they’re not magic. They work best for quick, row-level or aggregated calculations—think KPIs, rolling averages, or simple if/then logic. If you need to join tables, do heavy data shaping, or build super-nested logic, you’re better off with Domo’s ETL tools or prepping your data before it hits Domo.

But for building executive reports fast? Beast Mode is your friend.

Step 1: Know What Execs Actually Want

Before you click a single button, figure out what your audience cares about. Executive reports aren’t about showing off every metric—you want:

  • Clarity: What’s the topline number? Is it good or bad?
  • Trends: Are things getting better or worse?
  • Actionable insights: What needs attention now?

Pro tip: If you don’t know what question the report answers, stop and ask. Nothing wastes more time than building a beautiful dashboard nobody uses.

What to ignore: Fancy charts “just because.” If you can’t explain a chart in one sentence, it probably doesn’t belong in a C-suite report.

Step 2: Sketch the Story First

Don’t dive into Domo yet. Take five minutes to sketch out your report on paper or a whiteboard:

  • What are the 2–3 key numbers?
  • What’s the main trend or comparison?
  • What context (last month, target, YoY) makes those numbers meaningful?

Why bother? It’ll save you hours of fiddling with charts later.

Step 3: Prep Your Data (But Don’t Overthink It)

Beast Mode is great, but it can’t fix messy data. Before building, double-check:

  • Are the numbers you need all in one dataset?
  • Are date fields in a usable format?
  • Are your categories (regions, products, teams) consistent?

If your data’s a mess, spend the time cleaning it up outside Domo or use Domo’s Magic ETL. Don’t try to fix broken data with a giant Beast Mode formula—it’ll just break in more creative ways.

Step 4: Build Your First Beast Mode Calculation

Now you’re ready to get your hands dirty.

How to Create a Beast Mode in Domo

  1. Open your dataset in Analyzer.
  2. Click “Add Calculation” (or the “+” next to Beast Mode in the fields list).
  3. Give it a name you’ll recognize later (don’t call it “Test1”—future you will hate you).
  4. Write your formula using Domo’s flavor of SQL-like syntax.

Examples:

  • Basic KPI (e.g., Conversion Rate): sql SUM(Conversions) / NULLIF(SUM(Visits), 0)

  • Conditional Logic (e.g., Flagging Wins): sql CASE WHEN Revenue > 100000 THEN 'Big Win' ELSE 'Normal' END

  • Rolling Average (last 7 days): sql AVG(Sales) OVER (ORDER BY Date ROWS BETWEEN 6 PRECEDING AND CURRENT ROW)

(Note: Not all window functions are supported everywhere—test first!)

Pro tip: Start simple. Get one calculation working before you chain ten together.

Step 5: Build Visuals That Don’t Make Eyes Bleed

You’ve got your Beast Modes—now put them to work.

  • Choose charts that instantly show direction: Line for trends, bar for comparisons, single value for KPIs.
  • Limit the dashboard to 3–5 visuals—any more and people stop paying attention.
  • Use color sparingly: Red for bad, green for good. That’s it.
  • Add clear titles and descriptions: “Revenue vs Target, Last 12 Months” beats “Chart 2.”

What works: Cards that surface exceptions, outliers, or sudden changes. Executives want to know what’s off-track, not just what’s humming along.

What doesn’t: Pie charts. Don’t do it. Also, giant tables of raw data—no one’s scrolling through those.

Step 6: Add Context and Drill Paths

Numbers are meaningless without context. Make sure your dashboard answers these:

  • Is this good or bad? Compare against targets or last year.
  • What changed? Show % change, not just raw numbers.
  • Can I dig deeper? Add drill paths so users can click into a number and see the details (e.g., which region, which product).

To set up a drill path in Domo:

  1. Click the card menu, choose “Edit Drill Path.”
  2. Pick which columns or visuals to show when someone clicks in.
  3. Keep the drill simple—don’t make users solve a Rubik’s Cube.

Step 7: Test With a Skeptical Eye

Before you share anything, look at your dashboard like someone who doesn’t care how long you spent on it.

  • Gut check: Do the numbers make sense? Are they updated?
  • Try breaking it: Change filters, date ranges—does everything still work?
  • Ask a peer: “If you had 60 seconds, what would you take away from this?”

What to ignore: Edge cases you can’t explain. If a number looks weird, dig in. Don’t hope no one will notice.

Step 8: Share, Get Feedback, and Iterate

Send your report to real users (not just your boss). Ask for honest feedback:

  • “What’s missing?”
  • “What’s unclear?”
  • “Is this actually useful?”

Odds are, you’ll need to tweak your Beast Modes or visuals. That’s normal. Don’t treat your report as precious—treat it as a living thing.

What Beast Mode Does Well (and Where It Falls Short)

Great for:

  • Quick math on columns you already have.
  • Calculated KPIs, ratios, or simple logic.
  • Prototyping new metrics without touching the underlying data.

Not great for:

  • Heavy-duty joins or reshaping data.
  • Row-by-row transformations that require context from other rows.
  • Handling truly dirty or missing data.

If you find yourself writing a Beast Mode that’s a paragraph long, stop and rethink your approach.

Keep It Simple, Stay Flexible

Executive reports in Domo aren’t about wizard-level formulas—they’re about surfacing what matters, fast. Beast Mode calculations are a tool, not a silver bullet. Start simple, get feedback, and keep tweaking. The best dashboards grow over time, not overnight.

If you’re stuck, remember: clarity beats complexity, every time.